A wonderful and timely article. My son-in-law entered the plumbing apprenticeship program a year ago. After he graduates, he'll be making more than double what he could earn in most entry level white-color jobs with four year university degree. His benefits and retirement can't be beat either. Factor in the devastation that artificial intelligence will cause in most white-color sectors in the coming years and the unbelievable cost of college tuition....I think the trades are really a smart choice here in the U.S.